Two-speed and reversing clutch



Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,200

1 y l- T. GEN'SMER TWO-SPEED AND REERSING CLUTCH.

Filed Aug.28. 1926 -s sheets-sheet 1 A )fa/wey T. GENSMER TWO-SPEED ANDREVERSING CLUTCH Filed Aug. 28. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 `T.' GENSMERTwo-SPEED AND REvl-:Rswa CLUTCH Oct; 30, A 1928.

Filed Aug. 28, 1926 A I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7560 dare gems/27e? n fhle;

.Patented Get. 30, 1928.

irait ,'THEODORE GENSM-ER, OF PORTLAND, .OREGO1\T.

TWO-SPEED YAND .REVERSING CLUTCH.

=App1icaton ed :August 28', 1925. SerialvNo. 132235.V

My invention relates to transmission. de-

'-vices'foruse, primarily upon motor driven vehicles, as automobiles,Amotor boats and the :like,:but the same may-be used in line shaftsandthe likewherein it maybe found desir- :able to change'the: speedratiosibetween the iii-put end andthe out-put end of the saine..

kOne of the obj ect's'of my new and improved device consistsvin' thecombnationin one unit of 'the speed ratios to be Obtained andY theclutch which heretofore hasbeen composed of'two independent units.

Afurtlier objectof my device consists in 'providing vfor a 'large numberof -speed changes inthe one device.

A still-y further object of my device consists in provision beingmade-inthe devicefor a reverse drive without'the changing of z(gearratios.

Additionalwobjects of my device consist in v constructing the same in a:manner and housing the same insuchawayy as'to preventthe admission of'foreign substances or matter within. the' device.

The invention consists primarily of a primaryhousing?having,r suitablebearings dis- .posedl in either end for the journaling'of theinainshaft'thereinf and having disposed within the primary housing theoperating mechanisin and parts wliiclimay be easily accessible andL openfor inspection andv adjustment by tlie removal of the primaryhousingcover, disposed; upon the one side of the same.

`W ith these and'incidentall objects inview,

.the invention consists in certain-novel features .of construction andcombination yof parts, the essential elements of which are-set rforthin,v the appended claims, and a. preferred form of embodiment ofwhich ishereinafter shown with referencetothe drawings which accompany and 'forma part of this specification.

' tained.

tion, of a ball carryingl men'ibe-rshownremoved froin the assembly.

fFig. 7 side elevation partially"insec-y tion. of lthe mechanism showninf Fig. 6'. j

Fig'. Sis. a diagrammatical layoutloff. the ball and the housingfor'thesanie and ofthe surfaces upon which the ball travels," tlie'- arrowsindicating theI action of the barllwlien a thrust is applied.

Like reference characters refertolike parts throughout the severalviews:-y y

I forni my'priniary housing of'two partsl and 2, joined andsecuredtogetherl through fastening elements' 3, as cap screws. "Power isapplied to the-shaft l vby a prime mover, not here shown. Power isdeliveredyfroin my device, at the output end through shaft-5. Suit ablebearings are providedy, 1 through 'the housing, to properly journalthelsha-f'ts therein. Two clutch faces Y6 an d -are provided, oneforeach differentspeed ratiofto'be-"ob- An annular clutch engagingelement is provided' for each of thev clfu'tch faces andactuatorsareprovided foreach; of the annular clutch engagingreleinents.rIhe shaft 5 has a flange disposedfuponits inner end. J

Bosses 9 and10 areE formed thereupon tor form bearings through which thestub shaftspass that are secured to: the anniilar'- clutchelements vTheannular clutch engaging' element 11 has thestubfshaft 12lsecuredthereto.

rillie stub shaftpassesthrouglr theiboss 9`an`d is secured. tothe-spider 15S-loyiiieaiis of the fastening;` bolt 1li, The spider'll isournalled about the sleeve 15 and in slidable relation with the sleeve.'AL-ring" 1-6 is'securedtothe outer end of the spider element againstwhich the roller 17 of theclutchactuator-yolie18is made to engage. Aconstant.` normal pressure is maintainedbetween'thering 16 andthe roller17 tliroughlthe action of 'compression spring 19. `The release oftheyolrelS permits the action of the spring" 199 to engageithe clutchelement 11 with the clutch face 6. I provide a sleeve 15 journ aled silooutltheshaft 5 and in slidable relation therewith-which lmounts andcarries the secondary clutch lniechanisin heretofore described. Aring'QO terminates the outer end ofthe sleevel and acts as athrus-t'collar between the'compression clutch springs'19 and121.. A"normal pressure is placed upon the compression spring 21 through theaction of the Wearing ring 22 and the threaded pressure adjusting nut23. Which is in threaded engagement with Ithe shaft 5. A roller 24engages the ring 20 and is actuated by the actuator yoke 25; thusmaintaining the yoke 18 in position to prevent the engagement of theclutch faces 11 and 6, whereas the release of the yoke 25 will permitthe resultant reaction of the compression spring 21 to force theengagement of the clutch engaging element 26. mounted upon the stubshaft 27 and secured to the flange 29 through the fastening 28. Theflange 29 is formed upon the inner end of the sleeve 15.

Power is supplied to the shaft 4 from a prime mover, not here shown, andthe shaft is journaled within the bearing 3l secured within thehousing 1. The shaft 4 has a feather key 32 seated within the shaft andthe sleeve housing 35 may be moved Y longitudinally of the shaft andupon the key 32. A yoke 33 is adapted to the sleeve housing 35 and ismaintained in position and adjustment through the action of theadjusting nutA 34. The adjusting nut 34 is in threaded relation with thesleeve housing 35.

The clutch face 6 is formed upon an annular ring `36 having a brakingsurface formed as shown at 37 upon its outer peripheral sui'- face andupon which a brake band 38 is made to register and engage. The brakeband 3S is of the expanding and contracting type as shown in Fig. 3 andis normally expanded through the action of the compressible spring 39.Two ears 40 and 41 are formed upon the terminal ends of the brake band38 and the journal rod 42 passes therethrough and acts as a bearingforthe spring 39. A suitable fastening lock nut V43 is in threadedengagement with the end of the rod 42. The sleeve 46 has a helix face44. The sleeve 46 is placed about the rod 42 and is in fixed relationwith the ear `41 of the brake band. The outer end of the `journal rod 42has a helix face 45 in registering alignment with the helix Vface 44 andthe partial rotation of the ournal rod through the action of the hellcrank 47 and the actuatinglever 48 will compress the spring and apply abraking action upon the brake surface 37. A toggle lever 49 is journaledabout the supporting shaft 5() and has its opposite ends in engagementwith the crank arms 51' and 52 that are secured to the shafts 53 and 54.The yoke 18 is secured to the shaft 53 andthe yoke 25 is secured to theshaft 54. The operating lever 55'is in hinged engage` ment With the pin56 that is in fixed relation with the housing. Vl/Vhen the operatinglever 55 is inthe position as illustrated in Fig. 1 the same is in theneutral position and neither the clutch engaging elements nor thebraking surfaces are in engagement. In the event that the lever 55 isactuated to the right, as looking at Fig. 1, the clutch will be placedin position for high gear operation in which event the clutch element 26will be brought into engagement with the clutch face 7. The actuation ofthe lever 55 in the reverse direction or to the left will disengage theclutch element 26 from the clutch face 7 and will bring the clutchelement 11 into engagement with the clutch face 6 and the low gear drivewill be engaged. The movement/of the lever 55 through the full travel ofthe same to the left causes the engagement of the boss 56 with theadjustable member 57 n'iounted upon the rod 48 and applies the brake asheretofore described. VThis prevents the rotation'of the clutch member36, and at the same time disengages the brake band 58 from the brakesurface 59 disposed upon the outer periphery of the band'60. The longi*tudinal movement Aof the sleeve housing through the action of the yoke33 `and the actuating lever 61 journaled about the shaft 62 moves thesleeve housing longitudinally of the shaft 4. An internal gear is formedWithin the inner' periphery of the band 59 with which the teeth 63formed exterior-ly of the sleeve housing 35 are adapted to engage whenythe sleeve housing is moved longitudinally of the shaft. At the time ofthis engagement of the internal and external gears,

the spline 64 is disengaged from the key 65. l

When this engagement of the internal and external gears takes place theengagement is that of a reverse drive which is accomplished through theaction of the ball bearings 66and 67 carried Within the race Way and inregia tering alignment with the race Way within the oppositely disposedfaces of the annular plate 68 which is provided With a band 60. Atthertime of the engage-ment of the internal and the external gears thelongitudinal movement of the sleeve housing 35 does not affect thedriving compression 1eetween the engaging elements, consisting of theball bearings and the race ways composing the same. The sleeve 69,provided with a flange 79 and the race way 71 disposed upon the side oftheflange 7 O opposite the friction or clutch face 7 has mounted uponthe sleeve portion 69 a compressible spring 72 that engages with theannular ring 73 and causes engagementbetween the annular ring 73 and theseries of ball bearings 66'as Well as compression between eachl of therace Ways and the ball bearings operating therein. A suitable workingpressure between the ball bearing elements is secured by the placing ofa predetermined Working pressure upon the compressible spring 7 2. Thispredetermined 'pressure is accomplished through the medium of theadjusting nut 74 which is in threaded engagement with the sleeve 69. AWearing' ring` 75 is disposed between the adjusting' nut 74 and thespring 72. The amount of cempression placed within the compressionspring will determine the pressure to bc maintained between thedifferent component elements of the ball bearing members. The ballbearing elements not only provide for the reversing drive in the clutchbut act at the same time as a ball bearing for the main elementscomposing' the clutch as well. If slippage is taken into account betweenthe ball bearing elements through which the reversing and the low speeddrives occur most any speed ratio may be` obtained below that wherein noslippage may occur to a minimum of speed and the amount of this slippagewill determine the speed to obtain which in a measure will be automaticin character as the resistance to be overcome will determine the amountof the slippage.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to accomplish the primary objects stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form ofembodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible ofembodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

l/Vhat I claim is l. In a clutch, a drive and a driven shaft, an outerand an inner clutch element upon each shaft, means to cause a selectedone of the clutch elements upon the driven shaft to engage acorresponding clutch element upon the drive shaft, balls carried by theouter clutch element upon the drive shaft and bearing upon the innerclutch element upon the drive shaft, an annular plate supported by theaforesaid balls, a sleeve splined for movement axially of the driveshaft, said sleeve when moved in one direction engaging the inner clutchelement on the drive shaft, and when moved in the opposite directionengaging said l annular plate, and a brake to prevent the rotation ofsaid annular plate whereby when said annular plate 1s so prevented fromrotating, at a time theinner clutch element is' rotated by means of theaforesaid sleeve, ro-

' tation in the same direction at a lesser speed will be transmittedfrom the last mentioned inner clutch element, through the medium of saidballs, to the outer clutch element upon the drive shaft, and uponengagement of the two aforesaid outer clutch elements ultimately to thedriven shaft.

2. In a clutch, a drive and a driven shaft, an outer and an inner clutchelement upon each 1 shaft, means to cause a selected one of the clutchelements upon the driven shaft to engage a corresponding clutch elementupon the drive shaft, balls carried by the outer clutch element upon thedrive shaft and bearing upon the inner clutch element upon the driveshaft, an annular plate supported by the aforesaid balls, a sleevesplined for movement axially of the drive shaft, said sleeve when movedin one direction engaging the inner clutch element on the drive shaft,and when moved in the opposite direction engaging said 3. In a device ofthe class described, a drive and a driven shaft, a pair of driveclutches upon the drive shaft, a pair of driven clutches upon the drivenshaft, eachpair of clutches being arranged concentric to its respectiveshaft, one clutch of each pair surrounding the other of each pair, thedriven clutches being adapted for movement longitudinally of the drivenshaft, including means whereby the outer driven clutch is caused toengage the outer drive clutch at the same time the inner driven clutchis caused to recede from the inner drive clutch, or vice versa, twoseries ofl balls carried in bearings on the outer drive clutch, anannular plate provided with ball raceways clasped between said series ofballs, a ring, a spring urging said ring upon one of the series of ballsthereby causing the other series of balls to bear upon the inner' driveclutch, individualband brakes to engage the annular plate and the outerdrive clutch respectively, a sleeve splined to the drive shaft adaptedfor rotating said annular plate when moved in one direction, and torotate the inner drive clutch when moved in the opposite direction,means for operating said brakes cooperating with the means for shiftingthe driven clutches, whereby high speed rotation is given the drivenshaft when the inner clutches are engaged and the splined sleeve uponthe drive shaft rotates the inner drive clutch; low speed when the outerclutches are engaged, the inner drive clutch is rotated, the annularplate is restrained by its brake, thereby decreased rotation beingimparted by the inner drive clutch to the other drive clutch through themedium of the aforesaid balls; and reverse rotation is transmitted tothe driven shaft when the inner clutches are engaged, the outer drive`clutch is restrained by its brake, the annular plate is rotated by saidsleeve, which through the mediurn of said balls imparts reverse rotationto the inner drive clutch. y

4. The combination with a drive and a driven shaft, an annular flangeformed upon the driven shaft and having its aXis in alignment with theaxis of the drive shaft, a sleeve provided with a ange carried by thedriven shaft, stub shafts, mounted to the last mentioned flange and eachpassing through the first mentioned flange, a clutch element carf riedby said stub shafts, an annular spider sleeve and said spider inopposite directions upon said driven shaft, a second coil springresisting the urge of said sleeve, clutch elements carried by the driveshaft each being adapted to be. engaged by one of the first twomentioned clutch elements, a pair of oppositely movable yokes, one beingadapted for lmoving the s eeve against the urge of the second coilspring, the other being adapted for moving the spider against the urgeof the first mentioned Coil spring, whereby When said yokes approacheach other the first mentioned clutch element engages its cooperatingclutch element upon the drive shaft, and when said yokes recede fromeach other, the second mentioned clutch element engages its cooperatingclutch element upon the drive shaft, and speed reduction and reversingmechanism Cooperating With the clutch elcments associated with thedriveshaft substan-` tially as described.

THEODORE GENSMER.

